Suppliers ramping up component production for ‘thinner, faster’ iPad Air 2 with Touch ID

iPad Air 2 dummy (NowhereElse 005)

According to DigiTimes, a hit-and-miss Taiwanese trade publication, Apple’s suppliers are ramping up production of components for a second-generation iPad Air, which sources describe as being thinner, faster and incorporating the widely expected Touch ID fingerprint scanning feature.

The report Tuesday doesn’t shed more light on the matter beyond stating the obvious, that the device will run the upcoming A8 processor and be thinner than the current-generation iPad Air, which itself is 7.5mm (about 0.29 inch) thick.

DigiTimes writes that touch panel makers TPK, GIS and other suppliers have now received orders for full-lamination units. Even though the iPad Air 2 should remain unchanged in terms of size and resolution, sources that spoke to DigiTimes expect a “thinner” device equipped with “an enhanced processor” and sporting ”improved fingerprint recognition” features.

As the current iPad Air lacks fingerprint scanning, the ”improved fingerprint recognition” likely refers to a second-generation Touch ID that’s expected to make its debut on the iPhone 6 at the September 9 event.

The report also adds that Sharp, Japan Display and LG Display are seeing orders increase for the iPhone 6 screens. Should Apple stick to its release schedule, expect the next-generation iPad lineup to be unveiled at a separate media event in October.

In addition to the aforementioned features, the iPad Air 2 should incorporate a new anti-reflective coating making the screen easier to read, subtle design changes and 2GB of RAM to power the rumored split-screen multitasking.

A 12.9-inch ‘iPad Pro’ model is said to be in tow for an early-2015 introduction, according to the rumor-mill and big media like Bloomberg.

[DigiTimes]